Book Review: The Help

I finished this book a while ago, on one of the hottest days in Boston history. I was waiting for Mike to arrive, lying scantily clad on my bed with the A/C cranked. I spent the interim between my workday and his arrival finishing up Kathryn Stockett's amazing book. When my friend Meg recommended the book, I was skeptical. No offense to Meg, but I tend to overlook books with mass appeal (think: NYT Best Sellers). Yes, blame it on the hipster in me.

Luckily, Meg's sincere endorsement won me over because this book served as such a warm and comfortable companion in the short two weeks it took me to read it. You know that struggle between racing through a great book and keeping a slow pace in order to savor it longer? So do I. Stockett's characters are just that: characters. The quirks and flaws of each narrator and the women who surround them range from cute to hateful.

The days I spent reading The Help were especially hot in Boston, and it made me feel even more involved with the story. One night I sat in my kitchen baking cookies while reading. The sweat dripping down my face and the smell and sounds of domesticity completed the experience. There's something very accessible and thus, magical about the stories.

Last week, I went to see the movie based on Kathryn Stockett's novel with Meg. Some scenes surprisingly matched my mind's images while I read the book, like when Aibilene's bus is stopped a ways outside her neighborhood. Sissy Spacek was perfect for Hilly's mom; Aibilene and Minnie's characters were well-represented, as was Celia Foote's. One of my biggest pet peeves is the complete misrepresentation of southern accents in movies and television, but I didn't notice it in this movie (which isn't to say it wasn't there, but it wasn't prominent or distracting). Of course the movie never lives up to the book, but I felt that way mostly because the movie's two and a half hours simply didn't leave room for the rich setting and character details that the book did. I'd say the movie's worth seeing, but do yourself a favor and read this book.

Come to Cambridge!

I love where I live. Which is why, when our building was sold and our rent went up $600, I knew I would figure out a way to make it work. (I also don't want to move until I know I'll be there for a long, long while.) So to better keep track of all the reasons I love Cambridge, I'm going to start sharing some of my favorite spots around town. First stop is the best pizza place, and it's less than a block away! You'd never guess that it has such kick-ass pizza from the name, though, which makes it all the more a neighborhood secret.

City Girl Cafe is adorable. It's in an unassuming commercial duplex on Hampshire Street in Inman Square. Ever since my first visit over a year ago, the sight of its red awning makes my mouth water. On days when I don't feel like cooking, City Girl is my first pick. I've gone on some dates here, celebrated birthdays, and had ladies' nights that start off with pizza and homemade sangria. Meg and I are some of their hardcore fan girls, and they seem to know our faces by now.

Mike and I try not to eat out too much, but every once in a while we splurge and this is always my first pick. I took him there one night after he came into town to help me move into my new room. They have an extensive and delicious menu (luckily my friends are big sharers), but I can't get away from ordering a pizza and a caesar salad. Okay, stop right there. This isn't your run-of-the-mill caesar salad. Since CG serves sandwiches on some delicious bread, they turn extra bread into huge and delicious croutons, then they throw it together with fresh romaine, fresh parmesan cheese, and seriously the best caesar dressing I've ever had. The salad is pretty big, so it's ideal to share with people without getting territorial and breaking up friendships over someone eating too much. Try it and you'll understand.

I've been to CG for brunch once, and I was not disappointed. Their portions are generous, so sharing is a great option. The coffee was good, and I was able to bring half the meal home for Mike. Jenna and Ron had the french toast and the goat cheese, bacon, and caramelized onion egg sandwich, which were both delicious. I had the verde, and the pesto tasted fresh and the home fries were so good and the perfect amount of crispy.

Perhaps my favorite part of the place is its cozy-nook feel. In the winter, it's always nice to slip inside for a warm meal, a cold beer, and a break from the ridiculous cold. The decor is charming and unique, and the whole place has an intimate feel without being cramped. It's a small space, but I've gone with several big groups (between 7-10 people) and they've never batted an eye at us. The staff is so accommodating and sweet! I can't gush enough about this place.

So, here's the lowdown.
What's my wallet going to say? This place is very affordable. Daily specials are written on the chalkboard wall (which I love). Prices range from $7 to about $15. The pizzas are big enough to share or wrap up for lunch the next day (my favorite thing to do). If you ask nicely, sometimes they'll cut their big salads in half to make them more one-person friendly.
What should I order? THE PIZZA AND THE CAESAR SALAD. Seriously, were you not listening? I've heard great things about everything on their menu, but I'd suggest going straight for their specialties: Pastas and pizza. Their sandwiches are inventive, but get your money's worth by trying out a specialty lasagna or build your own pizza. Guh, just keep going back until you've had everything.
What's the drink situation? They serve wine and beer, sangria, and a rosemary adult lemonade. They also have coffee, espresso, and tea. The beer seems to be the best deal, and you can always get a Peroni for $3 (a preferred alternative to PBR, IMHO). Or drink some of Cambridge's real good water.
Dessert? If you have room, I'd suggest heading to Cambridge Street for Christinia's homemade ice cream (post to come!). City Girl does its savory thing best, and I'd recommend taking a walk somewhere nearby to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Accessibility, etc. There are two steps up into the restaurant, so I'm not entirely sure about wheelchair accessibility. It is a small space, so bring your fold-up stroller or sit by the window to keep an eye on it. There is a bathroom in the back, but there is no sink (only hand sanitizer) so if that kind of thing grosses you out, use the bathroom and wash your hands before you go.

Have you ever been to City Girl Cafe? What'd you think?

Book Review: The Year We Left Home

Books are a major part of my life, so I figured it was about time to get some book reviews up on this here blog. If it seems like forever since I read a book it's probably because it has been. The last book I finished was Joyce Carol Oates's memoir, A Widow's Story, oh, a month and a half ago. I've been frequenting the library like old times lately, and along with movies like Country Strong, No Strings Attached, and It's Complicated, I picked up Jean Thompson's The Year We Left Home. I'd heard of her other books such as Do Not Deny Me and Throw Like a Girl, but I'd never read anything by her. (Shameful confession: I own Throw Like a Girl, an impulse used bookstore purchase, but have never so much as flipped it open.) TYWLH was on display on the New Books table at the Cambridge Public Library and because of it's interesting cover (so sue me!), I picked it up. Don't you love the lack of consequences when you impulse grab things at the library? Me too.

Thompson's novel is structured by year and character. Throughout the novel, we travel to different parts of the country, getting good clues as to the political and economic climate of the country as well as the family that the novel chronicles. Thompson is strongest when she's in the characters' minds. Each section is written in third person limited, and the outcome is beautiful. Set in a rural farmtown in Iowa, the story starts out in 1973, mostly between Ryan and his cousin Chip, recently returned from Vietnam. Their exchange in Ryan's truck, smoking weed, takes place as much in what Ryan doesn't say as in what the two do say to one another. This introduction to both characters sets up an understanding of the family they come from that is essential to the novel.

My favorite part about the novel's structure was the way it dipped in and out of each character's life, showed us glimpses that we return to later in the book, decades later. The first half of the novel's sections end cliffhanger style. There's a build-up of suspense that creates a sort of sigh of relief sensation when you realize you've reached the half of the book that ties up those loose endings. But there is nothing particularly neat about Thompson's ties. There are lives forever changed by tragedy that we get to see once the initial support of the community dies down and the family is left to fend for itself. We are not present for every character's trajectory of growth, and so it seems that it's the circumstances rather than the journey that Thompson wanted us to focus on. Once history begins, there is no changing it until you are on the other side of it, still alive.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I'm known around my parts as a sort of literature snob. The truth is, I'm picky. The secret is, I don't really have a rhyme or reason to my pickiness. Whether it's a cover or the author's overuse of ellipses, I'll stop reading a book I don't like, no matter the reason. We're not given too much time here on this earth, even less of it to spend reading without interruption. Why waste it on a book overrun with horrible similes? I'm so glad you agree.

I read TYWLH in less than two weeks, which means I only owed thirty cents in late fees (it was a Speed Read book that can only be checked out one week at a time). It also means that it's a quick and simple read. You won't lose your place if some guy gets on the train yelling about aliens or if your baby wakes up early from a nap. If you're anything like me, though, you will find yourself yearning for acres of land, farm animals, and reckless adventures. Which, you know, is great. 

Read any good books lately?